Pope Francis and the Transformation of Health Care Ethics

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERD) has guided Catholic institutions in the provision of health care that reflects both the healing ministry of Jesus and the Churchs understanding of human dignity. Todd A. Salzman and Michael G. Lawler present an extended critical commentary on the 2018 ERD, arguing that it prioritizes a rule-based ethical method, does not take into account Pope Franciss transforming ecclesiological, methodological, and anthropological visions, and provides no evidence that the bishops grasp how the clerical sex-abuse scandal and its cover-up have fundamentally undermined episcopal authority and credibility. They propose new ways forward for US Catholic health care ethics that prioritize human dignity as their guiding principle, with pluralism in the norms and directives that facilitate realizing human dignity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: Georgetown University Press

Since its first edition in 1948, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERD) has served as a guiding framework for Catholic institutions in delivering healthcare that embodies both the healing ministry of Jesus and the Church's understanding of human dignity. However, while the papacy of Pope Francis and the clerical sex-abuse scandal have had profound impacts on the Catholic Church, the latest edition of the ERD fails to adequately address or reflect these transformations.

In a groundbreaking critical commentary, Todd A. Salzman and Michael G. Lawler present an extended analysis of the 2018 ERD. They argue that the revised ERD exhibits several problematic aspects. Firstly, it prioritizes a rule-based ethical approach, emphasizing absolute norms that dictate specific medical acts. Moreover, it fails to consider Pope Francis' transformative ecclesiological, methodological, and anthropological visions, both within Catholic health care institutions and in collaborations with non-Catholic health care institutions. Importantly, the revised ERD provides no evidence that the bishops understand the profound undermining of episcopal authority and credibility caused by the clerical sex-abuse scandal and its cover-up.

Salzman and Lawler propose a new direction for US Catholic health care ethics, emphasizing human dignity as the guiding principle. Recognizing the diversity of Catholic definitions of human dignity, they advocate for pluralism in the norms and directives that facilitate the realization of human dignity. Pope Francis' emphasis on the virtues of mercy and care should guide the ERD in moving beyond a narrow focus on rules and regulations to a more holistic and compassionate approach.

The authors conclude by calling for a renewed commitment to reforming Catholic health care ethics, guided by the teachings.

Weight: 344g
Dimension: 228 x 154 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647120719